Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

"But I only ask one question: If one day you hire the wrong person, open the wrong position, or believe the wrong advice—do you dare to say 'wrong'?"

Zhu Biao bowed and replied, "If I am wrong, I will immediately repent and reproach myself, abandoning the original text and destroying the policy, without shirking my responsibility."

"But if I do not try, and the people die under the snow, I will not be at peace."

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes flickered, and he put down the bamboo slips: "Good."

"You want politics? I'll give it to you."

"You have opened the first warehouse. Now, I will see if you can defend this country's hundred warehouses."

Zhu Biao bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you."

When the spring breeze rises and the flowers bloom, twenty-seven members of various departments have already gathered in the "Wai Ce Tang" of Jian De Tang.

A plain table was set up with four seats, and Zhu Biao sat at the head of it. What was spread out in front of him was not an official document or memorial, but a scroll titled "Discussion on the Policy of Retaining Grain for the People".

"Zhang Kui's name is also included in this strategy."

Gu Qingping held the notebook in her hand, her brows furrowed slightly. "This person has been on several business trips to requisition grain, causing great resentment among the local people. Why is he still recommended by the Ministry of Personnel?"

Zhu Biao smiled faintly: "Because the Ministry of Personnel wants to see whether I accept the offer or not."

"If I accept, it means I am letting others not investigate; if I do not accept, it means I am being pushed by the opposing faction."

"This is the state of affairs in the court."

As they were speaking, a light footstep sounded, and Wu Qiong hurried in from outside, reporting in a low voice: "Your Highness, the Second Grand Secretary Liang Su personally reviewed the first draft of the 'Hengcang Records', which contains five policies. He did not raise any objections in his words, but he added a comment: 'Government has no constant power, but it requires constant people.'"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Biao smiled slightly: "He's reminding me that things can be done, but people shouldn't be thrown into chaos."

Gu Qingping's expression hardened slightly: "But if these words were heard by outsiders, they could be interpreted as—the Crown Prince is appointing too many people, and the political situation is not yet stable."

Zhu Biao pondered for a moment, then got up and slowly walked to the outside of the corridor.

Spring light streamed down the corridor, a gentle breeze ruffling the hem of Zhu Biao's robes. His gaze fell upon the slender bamboo in the courtyard, and he spoke softly, "Tell me, if I were to govern without employing anyone, who would I rely on?"

“When my Eastern Palace was first established and I had no real power, the old ministers did not support me and the veteran generals did not rely on me. Only new talents could be used.”

"New talents inevitably come with risks; without risks, no one would want to work with me."

Gu Qingping stood to one side: "But if people's hearts are unsettled, it will backfire."

Zhu Biao suddenly stopped, looked back at Gu Qingping, his gaze clear as water: "Qingping, do you know why I set up the 'Outer Strategy Hall'?"

She remained silent, lost in thought.

Zhu Biao muttered to himself, "It's not about discussing matters, but about recognizing people."

"Seven or eight out of ten people who listen to my advice today are not necessarily the ones who offer advice."

"But rather—those who wish to speak."

"No single person can decide on any matter in the court."

"If there are no people to speak for, how can there be any policies to govern?"

Inside the Prince's residence, Zhu Han sat by the window, holding a scroll of "Outer Strategies Record" with the ink still wet in his hands.

Huang Qi reported in a low voice: "Gao Jin, a lecturer at the Left Academy in the capital, said yesterday at the Wai Ce Hall: 'Now that the grain policy has been implemented, if the county officials do not know the people's will, opening a granary again will be a futile effort.'"

Zhu Han nodded: "This person is offering advice, not criticizing."

Huang Qi smiled and said, "But the Ministry of Personnel has already recorded Gao Jinzhi's name in the 'Policy Speech Register' and is considering whether to persuade him to be transferred from his lecture position."

Zhu Han tapped the edge of the table lightly with his fingers: "They finally couldn't sit still anymore."

“I set up a hall in the Eastern Palace to use the words of scholars to warn others, but it also hurt some people.”

"Send Huang Ji back to the Ministry of Personnel and tell them—if they speak ill of officials again, I will personally go to the Personnel Selection Office to bring them in."

Huang Qi was taken aback: "Your Highness, do you want to join the civil service?"

Zhu Han said calmly, "It wasn't that I wanted to join; they forced me to."

"Zhu Biao set up a hall to invite people to discuss politics; my intervention was to protect those who were discussing it."

“If even scholars cannot offer a single suggestion to the Crown Prince, then this government has no foundation.”

A few days later, the Crown Prince's Palace received an uninvited guest.

Gu Zhiyan, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, personally went to Jiande Hall and said upon entering: "The Crown Prince has set up a hall, and there are many people discussing it, but the proposals are mostly superficial. I request that the hall discussions be suspended for three months to rectify the system."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Biao did not rush to reply.

He looked at Gu Zhiyan and suddenly asked with a smile, "Minister Gu, have you ever lectured?"

Gu Zhiyan was taken aback: "Your Highness, I studied at the academy for half a year when I was young."

"Then do you know why the way of teaching is so difficult?"

Gu hesitated, saying, "Is it because my studies are not focused enough, and there are too many people talking at once?"

Zhu Biao shook his head: "No."

“The difficulty in lecturing lies in whether or not mistakes can be tolerated.”

“The words of scholars cannot be a single sentence that can be used as a policy or a single sentence that can be used as a rule.”

"But if you criticize a policy today, no one will dare to speak up tomorrow."

“The hall of my Eastern Palace is not for setting laws, but for gathering ideas.”

“You say that ‘the policies are all vague,’ but I believe that among these vague pronouncements, there is always one policy that can be implemented.”

Gu Zhiyan was about to speak again when Zhu Biao waved his hand and said, "I grant you permission to enter the hall as the chief judge. You will take turns judging the authenticity of a proposal every three days."

"If you can make three decisions and three plans, the people in the hall will naturally rely on you."

"If you cannot, then you will know that it is difficult to heed the advice of scholars."

Gu Zhiyan bowed respectfully and replied in a deep voice, "Your subject—is willing to give it a try."

Three days later, Gu Zhiyan had three volumes of policy proposals spread out on the table in front of him, his brows furrowed.

One of the essays, "A Brief Account of Grain Transport in the County," is so detailed that it goes straight to the point, down to the exact time the county officials set off to transport the grain and the amount of firewood and rice consumed.

Gu Zhiyan murmured softly, "This strategy... is usable."

Beside the table, Zhu Biao stood with his hands behind his back: "Then do you know who wrote this strategy?"

Gu shook his head directly.

Zhu Biao smiled calmly: "In Yangqu County, there is a minor official named Lin Shouqian."

"He was neither registered in the imperial examinations nor passed the civil service examinations; even the county magistrate did not recognize his name."

"Tell me, if this person doesn't establish a hall, when will he be able to serve the world?"

Gu remained silent.

That night, Zhu Yuanzhang summoned Zhu Han to the palace.

"Do you know that Zhu Biao set up the 'hall' to establish his own political power?"

Zhu Han cupped his hands in greeting: "Your subject understands."

"Do you know that if this situation falls into chaos, the scholars will not only fail to support us, but will also be filled with fear?"

Zhu Han paused for a moment, then slowly said, "But if it is not established, scholars will never have a path to governance."

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed, "He is on the right path, but the right path is too straight. I'm afraid someone will block his way."

Zhu Han's expression shifted: "Your Majesty, have we already heard rumors?"

Zhu Yuanzhang handed over a black-covered memorial: "Right Vice Censor-in-Chief Zheng Yinggao secretly reports: 'The Eastern Palace council hall has become a den of dissent; discussing politics is not their duty, and observing politics easily breeds chaos.'"

"He advised me to close the court session."

Zhu Han remained silent.

After a moment, he said softly, "If Your Majesty wants me to take action—I will protect this hall for the sake of the Crown Prince."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him and said in a deep voice, "No. I don't need you to protect the hall."

"I want you to teach Zhu Biao—how to discuss politics without setting up a hall."

“Teach him what it means to be a true leader.”

Zhu Han lowered his head in agreement, a glimmer of light shining in his eyes.

At this moment, the lights inside Jiande Hall were still on.

Gu Qingping sat at the desk silently copying the "Records of Grain Regulations for the People," while Zhu Biao walked slowly in the corridor, suddenly stopping.

"Qingping, tell me... if one day I stop holding court, who will speak up for me?"

Gu Qingping did not answer, her pen continuing to write. After a long while, she spoke softly: "If you truly become the crown prince whom everyone desires—even without setting up a hall, people will still knock on the door to speak."

Zhu Biao chuckled softly, "Then I'll continue on my way."

"When that day comes, the court officials will no longer fear me, and the scholars will be willing to trust me."

The East Palace's "Wai Ce Hall" has been open for thirty years.

That morning, the lanterns hanging outside Jiande Hall were not lit, the scholars had dispersed, and only the sound of the wind remained in front of the corridor.

Zhu Biao, dressed in a plain blue robe, stood under the eaves, gazing at the now-removed table and curtains, his face expressionless.

Gu Qingping stepped forward slowly, holding a book in her hands: "The Record of External Policies, three volumes, one hundred and seven articles, including twenty-seven on politics, thirty-four on people, thirty-one on people's livelihood, and fifteen other miscellaneous policies."

"Do you think it's worth it?"

Zhu Biao's eyes were calm as he said in a low voice, "It was never worth it. It was just a necessity."

“The purpose of setting up a hall is to recognize people, not to establish authority.”

"Now there are no more halls, but people are still here; but the words are no longer spoken in the halls, but hidden in the hearts."

Gu Qingping looked up at him, her eyes flickering slightly: "But now, His Majesty has dismissed the court, the censors have quieted down, and the old officials are at peace, yet some people have begun to gossip in private—saying that your position as Crown Prince is not secure."

Zhu Biao smiled but did not answer, only asking, "Has Gu Yuantang moved?"

"It's happening," Gu Qingping replied in a low voice. "Gu Yuantang visited Wenyuan Pavilion yesterday and met with Liang Su. He probed the personnel arrangements behind the scenes and hinted that he was willing to recommend someone for the Crown Prince."

A glint appeared in Zhu Biao's eyes: "He's handing me a chess piece."

"The Gu family used to avoid me, but now they're taking the initiative, which means they're taking advantage of my influence."

"But if I accept, I must retaliate."

Gu Qingping asked, "What hand?"

Zhu Biao slowly turned around and looked at the quiet courtyard behind the hall: "Give them a test—see if the people they push can defeat the people I have already used."

"I want the court to know that the Crown Prince does not appoint people based on recommendations, but on trials, observations, and judgments."

"Those who can truly stand in the court do not rely on fame or power, but on substance."

The selection of officials, councilors, and directors involves the recommendation of thirty people from various departments. Each candidate is assigned a case and their case is reviewed in five separate instances. Their fate is decided within three weeks.

This law caused a stir among court officials and scholars.

Inside the Prince's study, Huang Qi presented a document on the case: "Your Highness, the Crown Prince has set up a 'Probationary Examination for Assisting in Governance,' which has surprised everyone. Although the Ministry of Personnel has not spoken openly, Liang Su privately commented: 'The Crown Prince has not abandoned the old strategy; instead, he has devised a more obvious one.'"

Zhu Han flipped through the examination case book, nodded and smiled, "He finally understands that it's not about whether the examination hall is set up or not, but about whether the strategy is set up in people's hearts."

"Removing the curtain is merely removing the curtain; setting up a scheme is the true deployment of power."

"Those people thought Zhu Biao had lost a trick, but in reality... he folded one wing in order to fly further."

Huang Qi hesitated: "But if this situation is set in motion, what if the Crown Prince makes a mistake in choosing his men..."

"Would that shake the very foundation of the Crown Prince's palace?"

Zhu Han looked up at him, his expression calm: "That's precisely why he had to set it up."

"If he never tests people throughout his life, how can we know if he is capable of employing them?"

“If he relies on his father’s protection of the Crown Prince for his entire life, then the Crown Prince will never stand firm.”

“I, Zhu Han, can shelter him from the rain, but I can’t give him sunshine.”

"If he wants the world to know that he is the man of the rising sun, he must pierce through the clouds himself."

The first case set forth in the Jiande Hall examination was: "The Case of Household Registration in Three Counties".

All household registration records, tax registers, and corvée labor supplements for the three counties were to be prepared by the examiners in a single format, so as to assess and select capable individuals.

On the first day, there were sixteen examinees: five former officials, three newly appointed officials, and the rest were recommended candidates for the imperial court.

Zhu Biao did not set up a main questioner, but simply sat behind the desk to observe the writing, debate, and revision of policies.

The deliberations continued until dusk, when the three volumes were initially reviewed and passed through the court. All of them were written down by one person: Jiang Xiyuan.

Jiang Xiyuan read the text aloud without offering any commentary, only adding three words at the end: "Can be worked out."

Everyone paled, all thinking it meant "a useful talent".

Zhu Biao smiled slightly and said softly to Gu Qingping, "No. In his hands, these three words should mean: 'can be cultivated,' not 'can be employed.'"

"If Jiang Xiyuan truly supports me, I dare not recommend him lightly."

"What he left me was not an answer, but a knife—whoever dares to challenge for the position, I will use this to kill them."

The situation in the court gradually calmed down after a few days.

The second case of the "Assistant Administrator Examination" – the "South Market Tax Reduction Case" – had just been set up when all three candidates recommended by the Ministry of Personnel were eliminated.

Zhu Biao made no comment, but ordered his clerks to print these three cases as "Records of Trial Governance," printing one hundred copies and sending them to the Wenyuan Pavilion, the Imperial Academy, and the Hanlin Academy.

The court was shaken.

"The Crown Prince sets up a hall for discussion, and removes the hall for implementation."

"External policies are just words; practical measures are the realities."

"This man's skill in employing people is no less than that of his father, the emperor."

Rumors began to circulate, with some saying, "Zhu Biao set up this scheme not for power, but as a 'lesson'."

Inside the Wenyuan Pavilion, Zhu Yuanzhang read through the books late into the night. When he reached the "Review" section at the end of the "Record of Examinations of Government," he remained silent for a long time.

Cheng Shouyi asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, does the Crown Prince's move indicate his intention to establish a court?"

Zhu Yuanzhang did not respond, put down the booklet, and muttered to himself:
“He does not heed my orders, does not rely on my authority, and does not depend on my former officials.”

“Relying solely on the three words ‘hall’, ‘strategy’, and ‘people’, the Crown Prince’s position was stabilized step by step.”

"My eldest grandson... is walking more steadily than I expected."

A faint smile appeared in his eyes, which then darkened.
"But for this reason, I need to do something."

"Issue the order—summon Zhu Han to the palace."

"Starting tomorrow, you shall no longer be allowed to handle the Crown Prince's examination cases, enter the examination hall, or have private exchanges with the cabinet."

Cheng Shouyi was taken aback: "Your Majesty, the Prince is the Crown Prince's pillar of support—"

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand: "I want him to not rely on Zhu Han."

"Let Zhu Biao walk this step by himself."

"If he is truly destined to rule the court, then he will not fear being alone."

As the east wind warms, the imperial city remains dark, and new wisteria vines hang down in front of the Wenyuan Pavilion, just as they did in previous years.

Zhu Han has been away from his post for seven days, without setting foot on the imperial road or writing a single word of official documents.

As usual, he would burn incense and sit quietly upon waking, without entering the cabinet, seeing officials, or listening to current affairs.

Huang Qi grew increasingly agitated, and one day he finally couldn't hold back any longer and spoke frankly before the Prince's desk:
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince has not left Jiande Hall for three days."

Yesterday, the Ministry of Personnel submitted three more cases, all of which were returned to the Crown Prince's Palace.

"Some say that the Crown Prince has no support and the situation will descend into chaos."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Han simply replied, "Good riddance."

Huang Qi almost knelt down: "But that's the foundation of the Crown Prince's estate!"

Zhu Han raised his eyes, his gaze authoritative without being angry: "If you really care about him, then shut up and watch quietly."

"Zhu Biao is not still setting up a scheme, but rather—he has finally begun to take control."

"If he doesn't make a mistake at least once, how will he know who he can rely on and who should be removed from the list?"

Huang Qi remained silent.

At this moment, Jiande Hall was indeed not at peace.

The desk was piled high with unreviewed documents. After the Waice Hall was abolished, the voices of private discussion among the civil officials gradually intensified. Within two days, four people in the court submitted their resignations, all claiming that they had "nowhere to display their talents."

Gu Qingping sat in the outer room, her brows furrowed.

Zhu Biao remained seated in the hall, not uttering a word, but quietly reading a copy of "The Record of Trial Governance".

Footsteps sounded outside the room, and a man carrying a case file entered. He was disheveled and it was Lin Fengdao, the chief clerk of the Ministry of Revenue.

He held a document in his hand, its official seal still affixed: "Your Highness, the Ministry of Personnel has already discussed this matter. Fifteen households were mistakenly recorded in the transfer register of the Southern Market. We request the Crown Prince to decide whether to resubmit the memorial." (End of Chapter)